Chelsea suffered a Champions League loss after being beaten by AS Roma courtesy of El Shaarawy’s brace.
Roma went ahead to top Group C.
The hosts got off to a dream start when a cross into the area glanced off Edin Dzeko’s shoulder and bounced right to an onrushing El Shaarawy, who blasted a right-footed shot past Thibaut Courtois for the early lead.
Chelsea saw three good chances go begging in the opening half hour, Cesc Fabregas firing wide from 18 yards, before Eden Hazard shot right at Allison in the Roma goal and Alvaro Morata skied one over the crossbar when left alone at very close range.
Roma would be two ahead at half-time after the Chelsea defence made a mess of handling a Roma ball into the penalty area and El Shaarawy ghosted in and neatly tucked a shot past Courtois for his second.
The game was effectively over just past the hour mark when a poor pass from Fabregas allowed Roma to break the other way and Diego Perotti fired his team’s third goal of the night past a helpless Courtois to put the Serie A side one point ahead of Chelsea in the table.
Atletico Madrid
We were also treated to rude shock of Atletico Madrid failing to beat a 10-man FK Qarabag thus further denting their hopes of playing in the knock out stage of Champions League.
Michel headed in the surprise opener for visiting Qarabag from a Wilde-Donald Guerrier corner kick in the 40th minute to send the group minnows into the dressing room ahead at half-time.
The game turned early in the second half when Thomas Partey buried a pass from Antoine Griezmann into the upper right corner right before Qarabag’s Pedro Henrique was shown straight red for a hard foul, leaving his team to finish the match with 10 men.
Despite being a man less, FK Qarabag were able to hold Atletico Madrid to a draw.
Diego Simeone’s men have only garnered three points in four games and will need to win against Roma and Chelsea to have any chances in this top flight league.
Shining PSG
A second half Hat-trick from leyvin Kurzawa sufficed to see PSG thrash Anderlecht 5-0.
First half goals by Marco Verratti and the Brazilian Prince of soccer Neymar Jr. started off PSG on a good note.
Other Champions League results,
Manchester United 2 Benfica nil.
Basel missed a chance to advance by letting a lead slip and losing 2-1 at home to CSKA Moscow, with the result also preventing United from securing their spot in the knockout stage.
Barcelona failed to score away to Olympiakos in Group D, as Ernesto Valverde’s men were held to a 0-0 draw at the Karaiskaki Stadium.
Juventus scored a second-half goal to draw 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon and stay in second place, three points in front of their opponent on the evening.